Left hemitruncus with normal right-sided pressures in an adult

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Vascular Anatomy

Background:

• Hemitruncus, a rare congenital heart disease, involves abnormalities in great artery origins.
• Anomalous origin of the pulmonary artery (AOPA) is uncommon, with left AOPA differing pathogenetically from right AOPA.
• Typically, isolated hemitruncus presents with systemic or suprasystemic pressures in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery.

Observation:

• A rare case of anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta was diagnosed in an adult patient.
• This patient presented with unique hemodynamics, notably normal pressures in the right ventricle and the normally originating pulmonary artery.
• This specific hemodynamic profile in left AOPA has not been previously documented in medical literature.

Findings:

• The case highlights a rare variant of anomalous left pulmonary artery origin.
• The patient exhibited normal right ventricular and pulmonary artery pressures, contrasting with typical hemitruncus presentations.
• This represents a novel hemodynamic scenario for this specific congenital heart anomaly.

Implications:

• This case expands the understanding of the spectrum of anomalous pulmonary artery origins.
• It suggests that anomalous left pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta can occur with normal pulmonary artery pressures.
• Further research is warranted to explore the long-term implications and management of this unique hemodynamic presentation.